More Black Belt Stitching Wizard Stuff

Saturday, March 28, 2015

This photo is from this year's annual trip to the Dominican Republic. Baseball is the national sport of The Dominican Republic. There are fields everywhere and you can always find some kids somewhere playing ball.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Alrighty, I'm back and I'm done travelling for the foreseeable future... as far as I know! Where to start... stitching, my trip to The Attic in the Phoenix area or my new stash???

I think I'll get the stitching part out of the way first.

Before I left for my March Break trip to visit with Kathy in Southwestern

Yule: Winter Solstice

The Primitive Hare

stitched on 40ct linen with DMC

Arizona I started and finished my March Ornament. I pulled out yet another freebie that I've had set aside to stitch. Since life was so busy it was easiest to stitch up something that wasn't too big or complicated.

During my week in Arizona I focused solely on Cirque des Carreaux by Ink Circles. I am very impressed with the progress I managed to make in a week. I've finished page one and there's not left to go on page 2.

Of course who doesn't want to see The Accolade?

Now onto the FUN, FUN, FUN stuff!!! I do have other pictures from my trip, but not to overload you right now I just want to share my trip to The Attic!

Kathy and I set out for a little road trip during the last days of my visit with her. We stole the car and drove the 3 hours up to the Phoenix area where we met up with Terri who was so kind to put us up overnight. I had first met Terri years ago during my first trip to visit Kathy in Arizona, but at that time she was living in California and I was flying in and out of San Diego. It was so nice to reconnect with Terri!

Later that afternoon she too us to her LNS, and one with quite a reputation, The Attic! No wonder, look at this shop! Its big and every nook and cranny is filled with models and charts to look through.

Terri stitching away

Not only were we able to shop to our hearts content (and boy I did some serious dammage), but it was stitch night too! I must admit I couldn't really settle down to any stitching, I was too distracted by the shopping!

Me & Chris

While I was puttering around the store I had the best surprise on Earth! I hear my name and I turn around, it was Chris of the blog Tot Hill Farm Stitches! Oh my goodness! What are the chances we would be not only in the same State (as you know I'm up here in freezing, cold Canada), but the same City, or even that we managed to be in the same store on the same day at the same time! It was just so nice to get to meet Chris! I sure hope our paths will cross again in the future... or maybe we need to arrange that, Chris?

As you can see I did very well at The Attic... lots of charts, fistfuls of floss, and some fabric.

During my first days at Kathy's she finished up the stitching on the Chatelaine, Desert Mandala! During the rest of our stitching time she was madly beading away. As you can see that's how she wisely spent her time at The Attic (though I do know she made a few purchases). Terri and I were there to witness her full on, Happy Dance!!!! Here it is in all its glory.

Then on the drive back South, I told Kathy we needed a picture of her in the desert with the cactus and her Mandala. So here she is! We found the perfect Saguaro to accompany Kathy and her Desert Mandala.

I had an amazing week with Kathy and I got to spend some time with a lot of fantastic people! I wish every March Break could be like that!

Saturday, March 21, 2015

I took this photo last August while Todd and I were in Cape Breton, this is the last beam(s) of the setting sun highlight the Louisburg Lighthouse and Todd's new Truck! Makes for a great Ford ad doesn't it?

Monday, March 09, 2015

Have you missed my WIP Wednesday posts? Have you missed my stitching... have you missed me?

The week leading up to this year's DR Experience trip was beyond hectic! I was trying to get so much done before I left. Not just my home life, but my work life, and of course the kids! I should of gotten stitching pictures up last week, but well there's recovering from said trip.

I don't get a lot of stitching done during my DR Trips, but I did have a new start that I worked on during my flights. I did more stitching during my return flight than I did on the way down. That might of had something to do with the fact that I had to be up before 3am to be at the airport for 4am! My new travel project (not to be confused with purse project) is Ink Circles, Cirque Des Carreaux. Like the previous two in the series I've stitched this one is also on 32ct Queen Ann's Lace Joblean, the floss is ThreadWorx "foxy". This project will be getting A LOT of needle time this Saturday, while I fly down to Yuma, Arizona for my March Break trip to visit Kathy! I've got about 12 hours of travel time between flights and layovers, lots of stitching time! We've got a trip to The Attic planned, I can't wait!

Green + White

by Bent Creek

Stitched on: 32ct white lugana

Stitched with WDW & Crescent Colours

Before I left I had a little happy dance! Its another seasonal small, this time for St. Patrick's Day. Of course there's no time to actually get it finished finished to be on display in time for this years St. Paddy's Day.

Heart Of Flake

Freebie by Madame la Fée

Stitched on 32ct Raging Storm Belfast Linen

Stitched with ThreadWorx 1124

After my return I had another happy dance, this piece is my February ornament which I started shortly before leaving for the DR. I want to try to get back to stitching at least one ornament a month. Besides this sudden need I have this year to stitch seasonal smalls. I quite like this little heart I stitched up.

Before I picked The Accolade back up upon my return, I put a few stitches into Michael Powell's Mini River Cottage. As usual his pieces are so enjoyable to stitch! The only reason I decided to pick this up is because I couldn't get fabric sorted for my March ornament so I kinda gave up for a bit. I wasn't feeling an ornament at the time anyhow. I finally got my ornament sorted today, you'll see it in a near future post.

I'm sure you're dying to see how The Accolade is coming along, slowly but surely. I've found myself more distracted than focused in the last week and a half. I hope when all of my travel is done, I'll be able to buckle down and happy dance this BAP!